Hi, I'm looking to join Int Corps as a linguist and I've noticed that there are two jobs that specialise in languages, intelligence linguist and language specialist. I was just wondering if someone could give me some more information on these jobs and what the difference is between them as the army website doesn't really give all that much information about the language specialist. As far as I can tell the language specialist seems to go and talk to the people more whereas the intelligence linguist seems to interpret messages picked up, am I right or anywhere near close? Anyway, any info would be great. Cheers.

What she said was: You must have indicated which is more significant to the point that you want to correspond in, in which catergory. You have to speak a second language, without referring to a online translation and without a dictionary. You need to think in a language and be able to speak another automatically!

Okay, I was trolling before, didn't know you spoke French. If you join as a linguist, you will get sent (without much choice) to learn a language that they need like you mention. Right now, the Army is still training Pashtu speakers and you'll do an 18 month course in this if you grade high enough on the language aptitude test. Unfortunately, 18 months is still not quite enough for you to be fluent to be of any real use so in my opinion, it's a bit of a waste. Much easier to find native Pashtu speakers who are proficient in English than to work with the opposite.

As you may know, the Army is supposed to be withdrawing from Afghanistan in years few, by the time you join the Army, and actually get to the language stage and complete the course, this time will be fast approaching. How much real use you will get from this is unknown. I know Arabic linguists who completed the course and didn't even get sent to Iraq!

Linguists are now joining the Int Corps as a sole trade, so that's what you'll be. If you're happy doing this, go for it. But you may learn languages you don't want to learn, may never be completely fluent in them, may never get any real use out of them and may never get a choice in ones you learn in future!

Things are ever changing, I am not a linguist. I know linguists who are current and people learning now. It's just my opinion.

thanks smudge67er, I've actually already looked at the website but while there is quite a bit of info on the intelligence linguist there isn't much info on the language specialist, the only thing I can tell is different is the entry requirements which is higher for the lang spec so that leads me to believe it is a harder job. Would I be right in thinking this?

Haha, no worries. Just glad you chose a language I actually understood so I could reply. I'm not looking to join for 2 years anyway until I've finished my degree so things definately will have changed. Btw I know it is a long way off but with the way the world is atm you have to be prepared for leaving uni or you won't get anywhere fast.

What do you mean "sole trade" call me a ludite but not sure what that means.

Previously, in the Int Corps, you would join as, let's call it a generalist. You'd learn the basic trade that all joinees would learn. This has now changed and things are being taught individually. Previously, you could dip in and out of the linguist world, for example I at a later date could do a language course, do that job for a few years before changing my mind and doing other non linguist jobs. Now, this has changed, and if you want to be a linguist, that's all you'll be taught. You won't have the generalist skills to switch to if you've had enough as a linguist. It will be your sole skill set and that's what you have to do.

I cannot speak for the British military establishment, only for my own nation, having spoken to my husband, seeking his wisdom. He tells me that many of our linguists are of mixed parentage (French mother & overseas national or vice versa). In many cases the linguist has spoken both French and their specialist language from an early age as this gives them a distinct advantage as they understand colloquial expressions without having to think. As for learning a language in 15 months, then being able to easily read, write and speak it, is asking rather a lot. Quite honestly, the only way to learn a language that fast is by total immersion. You live and breath the language, never speaking your mother tongue. You mention Arabic as a language, difficult call, as there are so many different dialects and deviations within the Modern Arabic language. What is understood in one country may not be understood in another, even though both are "Arabic" countries. In many cases the languages are as similar as French and Breton (my mother tongue) - no common words whatsoever.

Well I was looking to be a linguist in civilian life anyway regardless of the army so it isn't something I think I would get bored of so that doesn't really bother me, although I do wonder what I would be missing out on if I was stuck to just learning language.

I know 15 months would not be sufficient. It has taken me 10 years to learn french and 4 years to learn Spanish to near degree level and that isn't even fluent. However, why would the army put this training into place if they did not feel it sufficient? Also I understand Arabic is made up of different dialects and languages but could not remember anything other than Farsi as one of them.

When the Army teaches you a language, it doesn't necessarily focus its effort on enabling you to discuss post-modernist literary theory in the target language, or even hold a conversation about half-way normal stuff, necessarily. It will give you the grammar and useage and, usually, a big chunk of idiom, which will help you consolidate if you're interested. Back in the day, the 18-month Russian Interpreter course was so well regarded that the Japanese Diplomatic Service would send their folk needing Russian on a one-year English course at Tokyo University and then to Beaconsfield to learn Russian in English. Certainly, to this day, some 26 years since I finished the course, I have the grammar and key vocabulary still absolutely locked in and usually get back to conversational fluency within a week on Russian soil.

PS Farsi is not an Arabic dialect, nor in any way related - entirely different linguistic groups - Farsi is Indo-European, Arabic is Semitic. There is lots of vocab commonality, for obvious religious reasons, I gather.